MEIER, Billy

Swiss farmer who has claimed continuous extraterrestrial contact since the 1970s, becoming one of the most controversial figures in UFO research. Meier, born Eduard Albert Meier, asserts ongoing telepathic and physical contact with beings called the Pleiadians from the Pleiades star cluster, whom he describes as spiritually advanced humans seeking to guide Earth’s development through philosophical teachings and warnings about future catastrophes.

Beginning in 1975, Meier produced hundreds of photographs purporting to show Pleiadian spacecraft, along with metal samples, sound recordings, and detailed transcripts of conversations with extraterrestrial contacts named Semjase, Ptaah, and Quetzal. His materials gained international attention through publications and documentaries, attracting both devoted followers who formed the Free Community of Interests for the Border and Spiritual Sciences and Future Studies (FIGU) and fierce critics who dismissed his claims as elaborate hoaxes.

Extensive analysis by skeptical investigators revealed that Meier’s UFO photographs showed obvious characteristics of scale models, including support strings visible in some images and backgrounds consistent with miniature dioramas. Computer analysis identified specific model components, and several witnesses came forward claiming to have helped Meier fabricate the evidence. Critics also noted that Meier’s “prophetic” information often reflected existing published sources or vague predictions easily retrofitted to later events.

Despite overwhelming evidence of fraud, Meier maintains his claims and continues to attract followers through regular publications of new contact reports and philosophical teachings. His case demonstrates the persistence of UFO beliefs despite contradictory evidence and the ability of charismatic individuals to maintain devoted followings even when their central claims have been thoroughly debunked by independent investigation.